Boerhavia plumbaginea
Cav.
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Robert Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY)
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Robert Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY)
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Robert Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Description
A scrambling herb. The stems are tall, erect and smooth or hairy. The stems can be several metres long. They grow from a woody rootstock. The leaves have leaf stalks. The leaves are broadly oval and slightly fleshy. The flowers are trumpet shaped and white. They are in irregular groups. The fruit are 1.3 cm long and have warty sticky glands.
Edible Uses
The leaves are edible, though they are not very palatable.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in dense woodland and on the edges of forests. It is often near water. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,800 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, Angola, Asia, Central Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Europe, India, Indochina, Mozambique, SE Asia, Senegal, Southern Africa, Spain, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, West Africa, Zimbabwe,
Other Information
It is not very palatable.
Notes
There are about 40 Boerhavia species. They are mostly in the tropics and subtropics.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Maidnika, Mookooty keray, Permarnara
References (10)
- GAMMIE, (As Boerhavia repanda)
- Grivetti, L. E., 1980, Agricultural development: present and potential role of edible wild plants. Part 2: Sub-Saharan Africa, Report to the Department of State Agency for International Development. p 49
- Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 208
- McMakin, P.D., 2000, Flowering Plants of Thailand. A Field Guide. White Lotus. p 100 (As Boerhavia repanda)
- Molla, A., Ethiopian Plant Names. http://www.ethiopic.com/aplants.htm
Show all 10 references Hide references
- Pradhan, R., et al, 2020, Potential Wild Edible Plants and its Significance in Livelihood of Indigenous People of Male Mahadeshwara Hills, Karnataka. Economic Affairs Vol. 64, No. 4 pp. 01-14 (As Boerhavia repanda)
- SHORTT, (As Boerhavia repanda)
- Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 29
- Thiselton-Dywer, W.T., (Ed.), 1913, Flora of Tropical Africa. Vol VI-section 1. Reeve, p 6
- WATT (As Boerhavia repanda)
